Coin-operated weighing-machine.



No. 731,823. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. G. E. VAN GUYSLING & J. G. W.ROMANS. 00m GPBRAITED WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

INVENTORS No. 731,823. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. G. E. VAN GUYSLING & J.G. W. ROMANS.-

COIN OPERATED WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY H0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.- G. E. VAN GUYSLING & J. G. W. ROMANS.

COIN

OPERATED WEIGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILED'SEPT. 19, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

" ATTORNEY Y No. 731,823.

, UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. VAN GUYSLING, OF BOSTON, AND JOHN G. W. ROMANS, OF WEYMOUTI-I,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO LE ROY WV. BALDWIN,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COIN-OPERATED W EIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 731,823, dated June23, 1903.

Application filed September 19,1902. Serial No. 124,072. on] model.')

T0 at whom it may concern:

Belt known that we, GEORGE E. VAN GUYS- LING, a resident of Boston,county of Suffolk, and JOHN G. W. ROMANS, a resident of Weymouth, countyof Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States ofAmerica, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCoin-Operated Weighing-Machines,of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to coin-released indicating mechanism,and isspecifically designed to produce mechanism of this class adaptedparticularly for use in connection with a weighing-scale.

The object of the invention is to reduce such mechanism to its simplestpractical form without impairing its accuracy, durability, oreffectiveness in operation.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, throughout the several views of which like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts.

'In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in elevation of an automaticweighing-machine, thecoin-released indicating mechanism thereof beingrepresented by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of theindicating mechanism removed from the head-casting of the machine. Fig.3 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view taken lengthwise of the index-shaft. Fig. 6 is a detailsectional View showing-the eccentric cone-bearing of the verge-shaft,and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view ofthe coinoperated trip-arm.

Referring to the drawings, '1 represents a hollow standard or columnrising from the base-castin g of the scale-platform (not shown) as asupport for'the head-casting 2, within which there is mounted ordinarytwin weighing-springs 3 3. These springs are secured at their lower endsto the T- head 4 of a vertical rod 5, extending through and having freeplay within the column as a connection between the weighing-springs andthe platform-levers. The parts above referred to constitute thecounterbalancing mechanism, which, however, as it forms no part of thepresent invention, will not be described in greater detail. It sufficesto say that any well-known or suitable form of such mechanism may beemployed.

' The indicating mechanism is mounted complete in a frame 6, removablysecured in the head-castin g of the machine. A through-shaft 7,hereinafter to be termed the index-shaft, is jourualed in suitablebearings in the frame 6 and carries secured upon its outer end an indexor pointer 8, which cooperates with a circular scale upon a dial 9 toindicate any weight to which the mechanism may become adjusted. Looselymounted upon this shaft there is sleeve 10, having formed in part withit a pinion 11, which latter meshes with a rack-bar 12. This rack-barhas a free upand-down movement between guide-rollers 13 13 13, workingin grooves 14 14, formed in opposite sides of the bar. Normally or whenthe index is at the zero-point 0f the scale the rack-bar is sustained inan elevated position by a locking device to be later on described. Whenthe locking device is disengaged and the bar is free to fall, itsdownward movement is limited in the usual manner by a cushioned stop 15upon the weighing-rod 5, above referred to. The shaft-locking deviceconsists of two oppositely-toothed ratchet-disks 16 17, keyed thereon,and two pawls 16 17, cooperating with the disks. The pawls are looselymounted upon a shaft 18 and are movable independently of each other.When the machine is not in operation, the index-shaft is locked againstmovement in either direction. The pawl 16 engaging the disk 16, servesto preventrotation thereof toward the right or in a direction toindicate weight, and the pinion abutting against a shoulder of therack-bar renders it incapable of moving in the opposite direction. Atsuch times the pawl 17 is elevated clear of its disk by a cam-arm 19inJpart with the pinion-sleeve, which arm cooperates with the pawl in amanner to be described as an auto- 9 matic trip in disengaging the sameto release the index-shaft and permit the return of the pointer from aweight-indicating position to the zero-point of the scale. As therack-bar descends the index-shaft and ratchet-disks solid and withoutspokes.

fast thereon are rotated by the arm 19, engaging a stud 20, projectingfrom the side of the adjacent disk. Such rotation of the shaft is inopposition to a coil-spring 21, by which the shaft, pointer, 850., whenreleased are returned to their normal position. The indicating mechanismis released by a coin-operated trip consisting of a lever 22, loose uponthe pawl-shaft 18. The short arm 23 of this lever is weighted andprovided with an extension 23, which projects under the pawls, and itslong arm carries a coin-pan. As the lever is rocked by a coin fallinginto the pan the short arm 23 thereof in moving upward carries the pawlsclear of the ratchet-disks, and the rack-bar being free to fall descendsuntil checked by the stop upon the weighingrod, and in its descentrotates the pinionsleeve. This motion is transmitted, through thecam-arm 19, stud 20, and disk 17, to the index-shaft, which latter isthereby caused to rotate and carry the pointer over the dial to a pointindicating the weight upon the scale-platform. In order to prevent theimmediate return of the pawls into locking engagement with the disks andprovide an interval of time necessary for the travel of the index fromzero to the weight-indicating position, a retarding device is employedwhich is operatively connected to cooperate with the short arm of thetrip. This device, as shown, may consist of a well-known form ofescapement, the toothed wheel 24lof which is mounted fast upon thepawl-shaft 18 and the 00- operating verge 25 upon a second shaft belowthe same. There is also mounted upon the verge-shaft a balance-wheel25", which is preferably of the disk typethat is to say, For conveniencein adjusting the verge the outer end of the verge-shaft is eccentricallyjournaled on an olfset cone-bearing of a stud 25 secured by a set-screwin a boss of the frame, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. By loosening theset-screw and turning the stud toward the right orleft the verge may beshifted relatively to the escapement-wheel. The trip-lever isoperatively connected with the retarding device by a pawl 26, mounted onthe extension 23 of the short arm thereof and engaging the toothed wheelof the escapement. One face of this pawl is beveled to permit the sameto ride freely over the teeth of the escapementwheel when the trip-leveris rocked to elevate the locking-pawls; but the opposite face is squareto engage and lock into the toothed wheel, the result being that theparts are sustained thus elevated, and the pawls are thereby preventedfrom immediately reengaging. The short arm of the trip is weighted, asshown in Fig. 7, and a stud 27, projecting from the extension thereof onwhich the pawl 26 is mounted, extends above the pawls to limit theirupward movementandinsure their return into locked relation with thedisks. In the operation of the indicating mechanism the cam-arm 19,which normally holds the ciliation.

pawl 1'7" out of engagement with its ratchetdisk, is moved around by therotation of the pinion-sleeve, so that on the return of the pawls bothenter into locked engagement with the disks and secure the pointer in aweightindicating position against movement in either direction. As theweight is removed from the scale-platform and the parts tend to resumetheir normal position under the action of the weighing-springs incontracting the rack-bar is carried upward by the stop on theweighing-rod; but the locking-pawls remain in engagement until the rackhas practically resumed its normal position. Their release is eifectedby the return of the cam-arm 19, which engages a bevel-lug 17 on thepawl 17 and forces the latter out of engagement with its disk,whereuponthe retractile spring of the index-shaft acts to rapidly return theshaft to the normal position with the pointer at zero. If a personcontrary to directions should first insert a coin before steppinguponthe platform, the effect would be to release theindexshaft for aninterval of time necessary for thelocking-pawls to be tripped and returnunder the action of the retarding device into locked relation with theratchet-disks. There would be no movement of the pointer, and the coinhaving performed itsintended function could not be recovered. In orderto prevent the loss of coins to patrons in this manner, a verge-brake isemployed, the same consisting of an arm 28, pivoted on an extension ofthe frame and extending normally into engagement with the verge toprevent its os- The brake-arm is operated by a stud 29 on theratchet-disk 16. This stud normally engages the outer inclined edge ofthe hook-like end of the brake-arm and forces the opposite end intocontact with the verge, preventing oscillation thereof and rotation ofthe escapement-wheel. Consequently it will be seen that as the retardingdevice is locked against operation the pawls when tripped by a coininserted before the person has stepped upon the platform will beelevated and sustained until the connterbalancing mechanism becomesadjusted. Then the rack-barwill descend and the index-shaft will rotate,carrying the stud 29 clear of the brake-arm and freeing the verge. Onthe rotation of the index-shaft toward the right through a fullrevolution the stud enters a notch in the end of the arm and preventsfurther movementof the pointer.

As the operation will be generally understood from the foregoingdescription, we shall describe the same briefly.

Assuming the mechanism to be in its normal position, as shown in thedrawings, when a person steps upon the scale-platform thecounterbalancing mechanism becomes adjusted to his weight, and in orderto obtain an indication of the amount thereof he inserts a coin in theslot, which suitably guided strikes and rocks the trip, therebydisengaging the locking-pawls and releasing the index-shaft and rack.The rack falls by its own weight until checked by the stop upon theweighingrod and rotates the pinion meshing therewith, which latterthrough the cam-arm l9 and stud 20 imparts its motion to the indeX-shaft, causing the pointer to move from zero to a positionindicating the weight upon the platform. The interval of time necessaryfor this movement of the pointer is provided for by the action of theretarding device in preventing the pawls from immediately reongagingwith the ratchet-disks. Under the action of the escapement the pawlsgradually descend and again lock the shaft against movement in eitherdirection, in which position the parts are sustained until the personsteps from the platform or the weight thereon is decreased sufficientlyto permit the return of the parts and the camarm to disengage thelocking-pawl in the manner described, and thereupon the various partsresume their normal position.

Some of the main advantages of the invention are as follows: Allcomplication is avoided. The mechanism is extremely simple, cheap, andeffective and being so is not likely to get out of order or requirefrequent overhauling and repair, and while employing a comparativelysmall number of parts of exceptionally simple construction the accuracyand effectiveness of the indicator in opera tion is not impaired. I

It will be understood that we do not wish to limit ourselves to theexact construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, asvarious changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. For example, the indicator might be used in connectionwith other mechanisms to register the force of a blow or the strength ofthe grip or the lifting power, &c. Other devices might be employedinstead of the rack-barand pinion for transmitting motion to theindicating mechanism. The coin-operated trip might be dispensed with andthe same operated by hand. The oppositely-toothed ratchet-wheels mightbe replaced by a single spur-wheel and only one pawl employed instead oftwo pawls, as shown, or other changes not specifically described mightbe made, but all such we consider obvious and immaterial variations ofform and not of substance and still within the meaning and scope of thepresent invention.

Having therefore described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an indicating mechanism, the combination of an index-shaft, adevice for locking the shaft against rotation in either direction inboth its normal and adjusted positions, a coin-actuated trip cooperatingdirectly with the locking device to disengage the same and means forretarding its reongagement, said means comprising an escapementconsisting of a toothed wheel, a verge cooperating therewith, a diskmounted as a balance-wheel on the verge-shaft and a pawl carried by thetrip engaging the toothed wheel to operatively connect the trip andretarding device.

2. In an indicating mechanism, the combination of an index-shaft,oppositely-toothed disks fast upon the shaft, a locking-pawl engagingeach disk, a coin-actuated trip cooperating directly with said pawls todisengage the same and means for retarding their re* engagement, saidmeans comprising an escapement consisting of a toothed wheel, a vergecooperating therewith, a disk mounted as a balance-wheel on theverge-shaft and a pawl carried by the trip engaging the toothed wheel tooperatively connect the trip and retarding device.

'3. In an indicating mechanism, the'combination of an index-shaft, twooppositely-' toothed disks fast upon the shaft, lockingpawls engagingthe disks, a trip cooperating directly with the pawls and adapted whenactuated by a coin to elevate and sustain the same, to release the shaftwhen in its normal position, an automatic trip for disengaging the pawlsto release the shaft when in an adjusted position and a retarding devicecontrolling the return of the coin-actuated trip, said retarding devicecomprising an escapement consisting of a toothed wheel, a vergecooperating therewith, a disk mounted as a balance-wheel on theverge-shaft and a pawl carried by the coin-actuated trip, said pawlengaging the escapement-wheel and operatively connecting the trip andretarding device.

4. The combination, in an indicating mechanism,of an indeX-shaft,ashaft-locking pawl, a coin-actuated trip for disengaging the pawl andreleasing the shaft and a retarding device controlling the trip in itsreturn to its normal position, and comprising an escape ment consistingof a toothed wheel, a verge cooperating therewith and a disk mounted asa balance-wheel on the verge-shaft, together with a pawl carried by thetrip engaging the escapement-wheel and a verge-brake actuated from theindex-shaft.

Signed at Boston this 12th day of September, 1902.

GEORGE E. VAN GUYSLING. JOHN G. W. ROMANS. Witnesses:

W. 1-1. PUMPHREY, ANDREW KENNEDY.

